CHECKOUT LANE: Tips to buy a remote car starter

Saturday

Feb 23, 2013 at 12:01 AMFeb 23, 2013 at 11:15 PM

Joe Molloy, owner and manager of Prestige Auto in Quincy, says remote starters are convenient for people who want to start their cars from inside their houses or offices and have them ready to go minutes later.

Grant Tyson

Remote car starters have year-round use.

Most people think of remote control car starters as useful solely during the winter to heat up their cars ahead of time.

Joe Molloy, owner and manager of Prestige Auto in Quincy which installs remote starters, also uses his on hot summer afternoons so that his air conditioner is on when he gets in.

A remote control car starter is convenient for people who want to start their cars from inside their houses or offices and have them ready to go minutes later.

The effective range for the remotes is 500 to 3,000 feet depending on the model.

“The starters use radio transmission, not line of sight, so a person can start their car from behind a concrete wall,” said Molloy.

The starters turn the car on but do not unlock it or allow it to be driven. Depending on whether it is hot or cold outside, a person with a remote control car starter must set the heat or air conditioning controls before they get out of the car. The remote starter will turn on the heat or air conditioning settings selected by driver before exiting.

When a driver walks out to the remotely-started car, the ignition key is needed to drive.

“Remote starters have evolved with the times,” said Molloy. “More expensive cars are harder (to install starters in) because they have more intricate wiring systems.”

Some newer car models have fobs, or remote keys, which can be reprogrammed to recognize the remote starter’s frequency. For other cars, a module must be installed in the dashboard with an antenna to catch the fob’s frequency.

Prestige Auto has sold up to 50 percent more remote starters this winter than last, Molloy said.

Molloy said the starters range in price from $299 to $400 depending on the year, make and model of the car.

Mercedes started making laser cut keys over a decade ago and that made installing remote starters more expensive and difficult. BMW and Audi are also on the list of cars which have more difficult installation procedures because they have advanced anti-theft protection.

Molloy said his company can give remote starter installation estimates to people who call and provide the year, make and model of car.